/     ^-y»  J,  Duke  University  Libraries 

^  '     '  T  Message  of  the 

-p»         '  Conf  Pam  #813 

ffS/3  lllllllililiilll 


DOC.  No.  I.  ''^i^*^ 


MESSAGE 


OF 


THE  GOVEENOR  OF  VIRGINIA, 


AND 


ACCOMPANYING  DOCUMENTS. 


RICHMOND : 

WILLIAM    F.    RITCHIE,    PUBLIC    PKINTEK. 

1863. 


YALE. 


Doc.  No.  1.  iii 


MESSAGE. 


EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,  VA. 
Richmond,  Jan.  7,  1863. 
•  Gentlemen  of  the  Senate 

a?id  Ho2Lsc  of  Delegates : 

Another  important  and  cvGntfnl  year  in  the  annals 
of  the  coninionwealth  and  the  Southern  Confederacy,  has  passed. 
When  the  impartial  historian  shall  have  made  up  the  record  for  the 
'  inspection  and  serious  deliberation  of  the  present  and  future  genera- 
tions, it  will  reflect  the  highest  honor  upon  the  enlightened  wisdom 
and  patriotism  of  our  generals  and  subordinate  officers ;  upon  the 
courage,,  the  energy  and  the  unyielding  -spirit  of  our  gallant  sol- 
diers— while  the  brightest  page  will  be  reserved  to  chronicle  the  no- 
ble heroism  ;  to  illustrate  ithe  self-sacrificuig  devotion ;  to  celebrate 
the  virtut^s  and  commemorate  the  glorious  deeds  o'f  the  daughters  of 
"  The  Old  Dominion,"  and  of  her  southern  sister  states. 

An  all-wise  Providence  has  guided  and  guarded,  has  watched  over 
and  protected,  and  has  stimulated  and  encouraged  us  in  the  effort  we 
are  making  to  achieve  our  independence.  Our  loved  ones  at  home 
and  our  armies  in  the  held  have  been  blessed  with  general  health. 
The  earth  has  yielded  in  bountiful  profusion  every  thing  necessary  to 
supply  our  wants  and  promote  our  comfort.  Our  arms  and  our  ef- 
forts have  been  crowned  with  the  most  brilliant  success.  Our  peo- 
ple have  been  cheered  and  (>xhilaratcd  by  our  victories  on  the  Chicka- 
hominy  ;  at  Cedar  Run  ;  at  Manassas  plains,  twice  baptized  in  blood ; 
at  the  surrender  of  Harpers  Ferry ;  at  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg ;  at 
the  signal  triumph  of  oiu-  arms  at  Fredericksburg;  and  finally,  at 
Murfr^esborough  and  at  Vicksburg.  The  names  of  Lee  and  John- 
ston, and  of  Beauregard,  of  .Jackson,  of  Longstreet  and  of  Price,  of 
Ewell,  of  the  two  Hills,  of  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  of  Forest,  and  of  Mor- 
gan and  others,  will  never  be  forgotten.  The  valorous  deeds,  the 
unsurpassed  courage  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Southern 


iv  Doc.  No.  1. 

Confederacy ;  the  sacrifices  they  have  made,  and  the  sufferings  they 
have  so  patiently  endured  in  the  holy  cause  of  independence,  will  be 
remembered,  while  freedom  has  a  votary  and  justice  and  right  an 
advocate. 

In  every  thing  that  constitutes  soldiers,  our  army  has  never  been 
excelled  in  ancient  or  modern  times.  They  have  shown  themselves 
ready  to  submit  cheerfully  to  every  sacrifice  for  the  success  of  the 
cause.  They  have  endured  privations  not  less  severe  than  those  sub- 
mitted to  by  our  revolutionary  ancestors,  in  a  struggle  not  less  im- 
j)ortant  or  sacred  than  that  in  which  we  are  now  engaged.  Nothing 
but  a  pure  love  of  freedom,  a  noble  and  elevated  spirit  of  patriot- 
ism, a  generous  ardor  in  behalf  of  our  countr)^'s  independence,  a  de- 
termined purpose  to  dissolve  an  alliance  with  a  people  who  enter- 
tained respect  neither  for  the  constitution  nor  laws,  a  people  who 
repudiated  all  the  glorious  reminiscences  of  the  past,  could  have  in- 
duced officers  and  men,  women  and  children  to  make  the  unparalleled 
sacrifices  which  have  characterized  this  unnatural  war,  brought  upon 
us  by  one  whom  accident  elevated  to  the  presidency  of  the  United 
States /in  the  memorable  year  1860.  Abraham  Lincoln  stands  this 
day,  in  the  estimation  of  the  people  who  constituted  a  part  of  the 
United  States,  and  before  the  world,  as  the  justly  detested  author  of 
the  ruin  of  his  country,  and  is  answerable  for  the  blood  that  has  been 
shed,  and  the  lives  that  have  been  lost  upon  the  fields  of  battle.  He 
and  those  who  elevated  him  to  power,  inaugurated  this  revolution, 
and  upon  him  and  them  will  rest  the  curses  of  the  present  and  of 
coming  generations.  As  he  has  sown,  so  let  him  reap.  On  his  re- 
tirement from  the  presidency,  a  doom,  more  fearful  than  that  of 
Devergoil,  awaits  him. 

In  after  times,  the  origin,  progress  and  results  of  this  revolution 
will  furnish  a  theme  for  curious  speculation  and  enquiry.  It  will  be 
a  matter  of  amazement  that  a  government,  great  and  noble  as  ours 
was,  should  have  been  sacrificed  to  the  fell  spirit  of  a  wild  and  reck- 
less fanaticism  :*  that  a  large  portion  of  the  people  should  have  been 
so  thoughtless  and  so  wicked  as  to  make  war  upon  the  institutions 
of  a  minority,  and  drive  them  into  revolution  for  their  defence  and 
preservation.  But  however  this  may  be,  it  is  certain  that  the  Union 
is  dissolved ;  and  it  is  equally  certain  that  we  can  never  again  be  re- 
united ;  and  the  man  who  preaches  the  doctrine  of  reconstruction, 
is  a  traitor,  and  deserves  a  traitor's  doom. 


Doc.  No.  1.  V 

The  admission  of  the  forty-five  counties  of  Virginia,  as  an  inde- 
penderlt  state,  by  the  federal  congress,  clearly  indicates  that  that 
government  has  no  longer  a  hope  of  accomplishing  the  subjugation 
of  the  south;  and  they  are  looking  to  boundary  in  the  adjustment  of 
the  controversy  which  they  have  provoked.  They  have  overrun 
much  of  our  state ;  and  this  new  state  thus  formed  embraces  coun- 
ties both  sides  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  If  in  any  adjustment  the  portion 
of  our  territory  embraced  by  these  counties  is  to  be  regarded  as  part 
of  the  northern  government,  it  requires  no  prophet  to  decide  what 
the  future  of  so  much  as  remains  is  to  be.  It  is  bound  necessarily 
to  be  free  territory.  I  cannot  suppose,  in  any  treaty  of  peace  that 
may  be  agreed  upon,  Virginia  will  ever  recognize  this  division  of  her 
ten-itory,  or  ever  assent  to  a  treaty  tliat  will  strip  her  of  any  portion 
of  her  domain.  Nor  can  I  tliink  tiiat  the  confederate  government 
will  ever  assent  to  such  an  arrangement.  Whenever  a  settlement 
shall  be  made,  come  when  it  may,  Virginia  is  to  be  regarded  as  a 
whole,  her  territory  is  to  be  preserved  intact,  and  she  is  to  take  her 
place  in  the  Southern  Confederacy  as  she  separated  from  the  old 
government.  Her  proportions  are  not  to  be  diminished.  Virginia  is 
to  be  in  the  future  as  Virginia  was  in  the  past.  She  is  to  be  as  she 
h{^  been,  "  The  Old  Dominiox,"  full  and  perfect  in  all  respects. 
We  cannot  give  up  a  foot  of  the  north  west  nor  of  the  middle  west — 
not  a  foot  on  the  Potomac  borders,  not  a  foot  on  the  peninsula,  nor 
on  the  bay,  nor  on  the  James  river.  It  is  better  that  this  war  should 
continue  for  an  indefinite  period  of  time,  than  that  Virginia  shall  "be 
even  partially  dismembered.  Let  every  Virginian,  then,  kneeling  at 
the  altar,  swear  that  the  old  commonwealth  shall  remain  one  and 
indivisible,  and  that  he  will  never  assent  to  an  adjustment, which 
will  take  from  her  one  square  foot  of  her  territory. 

The  federal  army,  which  has  invaded  this  state,  has  been  so  da* 
maged  in  the  various  battles  which  have  taken  place,  that  it  will  be 
difficult  again  to  bring  its  power  to  bear  upon  us  in  the  field.  We 
have  reason  to  believe  that  it  has  been  demoralized,  and  that  officers 
and  men  have  learned  a  lesson,  little  anticipated  b}^  them  when  the 
war  commenced.  Be  this,  however,  as  it  may,  we  must  not  relax 
our  efforts.  We  must  preserve  our  organization  ;  perfect  our  plans  ; 
redouble  our  energies ;  employ  all  the  means  within  our  reach — and 
above  all,  we  must  encourage  a  tolerant,  charitable  feeling;  inspire 
harmony  and  conciliation,  and  in  every  respect  be  prepared  for  every 
possible  contingency  that  may  occur.     We  have  much  at  stake,  and 


vi  Doc.  No.  1. 

it  becomes  us  to  omit  nothing  calculated  to  insure  success  in  the 
struggle.  Dissension  and  division,  strife  and  contention,  crimination 
and  recrimination,  can  have  no  other  effect  than  to  embarrass,  and 
perhaps  defeat  plans  and  measures,  upon  the  success  of  which  the 
present  and  future  of  our  cause  and  country  in  a  great  measure  de- 
pend. Principle  is  always  to  be  respected  and  observed  ;  and  it  is 
proper  to  remember  that  it  is  not  less  important  as  a  rule  for  govern- 
ments than  for  individuals.  If  we  cannot  agree  upon  the  principle, 
let  our  protest  be  made,  and  postpone  the  question,  and  the  contro- 
versy to  which  it  may  give  rise,  to  a  day  of  peace.  If  the  policy 
indicated  is  not  approved,  postpone  it  to  a  day  when  it  can  be  settled 
without  destroying  the  unity  and  harmony  of  our  people.  It  will 
all  come  right  in  the  end.  The  people  are  honest,  patriotic,  intelli- 
gent— and  they  will  decide  it  in  such  way  as  to  preserve  the  honor 
of  the  country,  and  maintain  their  own  rights;  The  questions  of 
principle  and  policy  are  postponed  merely ;  and  we  may  be  assured 
the  tiitie  will  come  when  they  can  be  fairly  and  properly  dfecided. 
It  becomes  us,  therefore,  to  be  tolerant  one  towards  another ;  to  bear 
and  forbear ;  to  cherish  a  kind  and  conciliatory  spirit ;  to  do  all  and 
suffer  all  that  patriotism  inculcates  or  duty  enjoins  upon  the  citizen. 

A  reasonable  degree  of  common  sense,  judgment,  prudence,  pat- 
riotism and  conciliation  will  carry  us  safely  through  this  war.  We 
must  be  united,  if  we  would  be  successful.  Concert  and  harmony 
are  indispensable,  and  without  these  essential  virtues,  we  can  only 
anticipate  disaster  and  inglorious  defeat. 

The  vandalism  of  the  northern  armies  is  without  parallel  in  the 
history  of  warfare.  No  regard  has  been  paid  to  the  rights  of  per- 
sons or  of  property.  They  have  violated  the  one  and  trampled  upon 
^he  other.  They  have  aiTested  and  imprisoned  private  citizens,  and 
sul)jected  them  to  every  indignity  and  outrage:  they  have  destroyed 
property  that  could  be  of  no  value  to  them,  and  that  in  all  previous 
wars  had  been  respected.  Wardrobes  have  been  broken  open,  and 
the  wearing  apparel  of  the  ladies  and  their  children  either  destroyed, 
or  appropriated  by  ofhcers  high  in  rank,  and  sent  to  their  homes  in 
the  north.  Pianos  and  valuable  furniture  of  all  kinds  have  been 
boxed  up  and  removed  in  many  instances,  and  in  others  broken  up, 
and  the  pieces  scattered  about  the  premises.  The  most  wanton 
destruction  has  marked  the  progress  of  the  northern  army ;  and  the 
cities  and  towns  they  have  occupied  exhibit   "  the  abomination  of 


Doc.  No.  1.  vii 

desolation."  Even  the  lodges  of  the  venerated  order  of  masons  were 
broken  open  and  robbed  of  their  emblems,  jev^'els  and  regalia ;  the 
churches  were  shamefully  desecrated  ;  the  Bibles  torn  to  pieces,  and 
scattered  through  the  streets.  Our  cities,  towns  and  counties  indi- 
cate that  they  have  been  cursed  by  the  presence  of  a  heaven-defying 
and  a  hell-deserving  rabble. 

Is  it  not  marvelous,  in  view  of  all  these  things,  that  we  could  so 
long  have  remained  in  association  with  such  a  people  ?  This  war 
has  exhibited  them  in  their  true  characters — as  murderers  and  rob- 
bers. They  have  disregarded  all  the  rules  of  civilized  warfare. 
Their  prisoners  we  take  are  entitled  to  no  consideration,  and  if  they 
received  their  deserts,  they  would  be  regularly  indicted  and  tried  for 
violating  our  state  laws,  and  suffer  the  penalties  which  those  laws 
annex  to  their  crime^  The  alliance  between  us  is  dissolved,  never 
(I  trust)  to  be  renewed  at  any  time,  or  under  any  conceivable  state 
of  circumstances.  Let  us  achieve  our  independence  (as  it  is  certain 
we  will);  establish  our  government  upon  a  firm  and  enduring  basis; 
develop  our  material  resources,  valuable  beyond  all  calculation, 
and  move  forward  in  the  highway  of  greatness  and  power  and 
influence.  When  the  war  ends,  a  bright  and  glorious  future  awaits 
us.  The  agriculturist,  the  mechanic,  the  manufacturer,  the  miner, 
will  return  to  thfeir  aocustomed  employments  :  life,  activity  and  pros- 
perity will  exhibit  themselves  in  all  branches  of  business  :  our  cotton, 
our  rice,  our  tobacco,  our  iron,  our  coal,  our  salt,  will  enable  us  to 
carry  on  trade-  with  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  will  give  to  us, 
amongst  the  nations,  a  respectability  and  character,  inferior  to  no 
one  of  them. 

The  finances. 

The  balance  in  the  treasury  on  the  1st  day  of  Octo- 
ber 1861  was        -  -  -  .  138,214  84 

Amount  received  into  the  treasury  from  October  1st, 

1861,  to  September  30th,  1862,  -  -      8,954,833  12 

9,093,047  96 
Amount  of  warrants  issued  upon  the  treasury  from 

October  1st,  1861,  to  September  30th,  1862,       -       8,658,846  ^ 

Balance  in  the  treasury  October  1st,  1862,  $  434,201  51 


viii  Doc.  No.  1. 

Balance  in  the  treasury  October  1st, 

1862,  -  -  -  434,201  51 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  year  end- 
ing Septembe^  30th,  1863,         -     17,324,446  63 


17,758,648  14 
Estimated  expenditures  for  the  year  ending  Septem- 
ber 30th,  1863,  -  -  -     17,691,763  49 


Leaving  a  surplus  at  the  close  of  the  year,  Septem- 
ber 30th,  1863,  of  the  sum  of  -  -         $66,884  65 

Treasury  notes. 

In  the  year  1861  treasury  notes,  bearing  interest,  were 

issued  to  the  amount  of        -  -  -       5,025,960  00 

There  have  been  redeemed,  up  to  the  25th  of  $>e- 

cember  last,  the  sum  of        -  -  -       3,532,620  00 


Leaving  in  circulation,  December  25th,  1862,  $1,493,340  00 

Prior  to  October  1st,  1862,  non-inte- 
rest bearing  treasury  notes  had  been 
issued  to  the  amount  of  -     1,103,153  00 

Issued  since  October  1st,  1862,        -     1,941,954  00 

'■ —    $3,045,107  00 


All  the  non-interest  bearing  treasury  notes  are  in  circulation. 
They  circulate  readily,  and  appear  to  be  preferred  by  our  citizens  to 
any  paper  in  circulation  amongst  us. 

^  For  the  details  and  explanations  of  the  whole  financial  system,  the 
receipts  and  expenditures  and  the  temporary  and  permanent  debt  of 
the  state,  I  refer  you  to  the  luminous  report  of  the  auditor  of  public 
accounts,  herewith  transmitted. 

Expenses  of  the  war. 

The  total  amount  paid  through  the  auditor's  office  for  the  war,  is 
$7,337,118  50,  of  which  sura  $1,311,951  29  is  chargeable  to  the 
Virginia  state  line.  The  report  of  Major  Smoot  will  show  how 
nuTch  of  the  amount  drawn  for  the  state  line  has  been  disbursed,  and 
will  also  show  the  value  of  the  supplies  on  hand;  and  to  that  report 
I  respectfully  reifer  you  for  this  information. 


Doc.  No.  1.  ix 

It  is  cause  for  congratulation,  that  although  the  pecuniary  burden 
upon  Virginia  has  been  heavy  from  the  commencement  of  the  war, 
she  has  sustained  it  with  a  spirit  and  courage  worth)'^  of  her  revolu- 
tionary fame.  All  the  demands  upon  her  that  have  been  presented, 
have  been  promptly  paid  so  soon  as  audited.  No  creditor  lias  been 
compelled  to  wait  longer  than  was  necessary  to  adjust  his  accounts, 
and  ascertain  the  amount  to  which  Tie  or  she  was  entitled. 

The  salt  contract  and  mode  of  distributio7i. 

So  soon  as  I  could  leave  the  seat  of  government  after  your  ad- 
journment, I  repaired  to  Saltville  for  the  purpose  of  executing  ftie 
law  in  regard  to  the  purchase  and  distribution  of  salt.  I  ver}^  soon 
found  that  a  most  perplexing  and  embarrassing  duty  had  been  -de- 
volved upon  me;  tbat  it  was  surrounded  with  difhculties;  and  that 
it  woulA  require  the  exercise  of  great  jirudence  and  the  most  judi- 
cious management  to  accomplish  the  objects  of  the  legislature,  and 
at  the  same  time  steer  clear  of  disagreeable  and  injurious  conflicts 
with  the  interests  of  the  confederate  government  and  the  govern- 
ments of  the  states  of  Georgia,  Alabama,  Tennessee  and  North  Caro- 
lina— all  of  whom  had  entered  into  contracts  with  the  proprietors  of 
the  salt  works,  and  under  which  they  wei-e  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  salt  for  the  supplj'  of  the  citizens  of  those  states.  These 
latter  contracts  were  not  made  until  the  legislature  had  declined  to 
purchase  the  salt  works  property,  and  were  made  therefore  in  good 
faith.  When  I  went  to  Saltville,  I  found  that  they  had  made  large 
expenditures  of  money,  and  they  were  at  that  time  just  beginning  to 
enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  outlay.  The  confederate  government  had 
'also  a  contract  for  twenty-two  thousand  bushels  of  salt  per  month, 
which  had  been  made  in  the  year  ISGl,  and  which  was  then  in  process 
of  execution.  To  have  interfered  with  this  contract,  would  have  en- 
tailed severe  suffering  upon  our  soldiers  in  the  field,  not  only  for  the 
present,  but  in  the  future,  so  long  at  least  as  the  war  should  con- 
tinue. County  and  corporation  courts  in  our  own  state,  as  they 
were  authorized  by  a  special  law  to  do,  in  praiseworthy  efforts  to  re- 
lieve the  wants  and  necessities  of  their  people,  had  also  made  con- 
tracts, which  had  been  partially  executed  by  the  delivery  of  one  or 
more  of  the  monthly  installments  provided  for  in  the  contracts.  To 
have  interfered  with  these,  would  have  been  to  punish  them  for  the 
commendable  efforts  they  had  made,  and  could  not  have  resulted 
otherwise  than  in  withholding  from  their  citizens  the  salt  they  were 
ii 


X  Doc.  No.  1. 

then  actually  receiving.  I  came  to  the  conclusion,  therefore,  after 
the  most  mature  consideration,  not  to  interfere  in  any  way  with  these 
subsisting  and  partially  executed  contracts.  Had  these  contracts 
been  merely  executory,  I  might  perhaps  have  come  to  a  different 
conclusion. 

There  were  still  other  difficuUies  equally  as  embarrassing.  If  I 
should  determine  to  take  possession  of  the  works,  I  must,  in  the  first 
place,  have  had  the  damages  assessed  for  the  real  property  so  seized. 
In  the  second  place,  I  must  have  had  timber  condemned  sufficient  to 
supply  the  necessary  amount  of  fuel  that  would  be  required  for  the 
operation  of  the  works.  In  the  third  place,  I  must  impress  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  slaves  to  cut  and  cord  the  wood,  and  a  sufficient 
number  of  wagons  and  drivers  and  other  labor  to  insure  its  delivery 
at  the  works.  In  the  fourth  place,  I  would  have  been  compelled  to 
impress  hands  experienced  in  the  salt  boiling  business,  and  who  were 
familiar  with  the  process  of  manufacture.  In  the  fifth  place,  I  would 
have  been  compelled  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  contract  which 
had  been  made  with  the  confederate  government,  which  your  act  di- 
rected me  to  keep  inviolate.  And  many  other  things  of  importance, 
but  of  less  consequence,  would  have  been  required  to  be  done.  The 
necessary  result  would  have  been,  that  when  I  had  finished  the  pay- 
ment of  assessments  of  all  kinds,  I  would  have  had  very  little  of  the 
appropriation  left,  with  which  to  prosecute  the  manufacture  of  salt. 
Nineteen-twentieths  of  the  appropriation  would  have  been  absorbed, 
and  the  people  would  have  been  in  the  end  worse  off  for  salt  than 
under  the  present  arrangement. 

I  therefore  determined  to  purchase  salt,  if  possible,  that  being,  in 
my  judgment,  the  only  feasible  plan  for  relieving,  to  any  valuable 
and  useful  extent,  the  public  necessities,  and  avoiding  disagreeable 
conflicts,  pregnant  with  the  most  mischievous  results  to  the  unity 
and  harmon}^  which  should  be  cherished  and  cultivated  between  the 
state  of  Vir^nia  and  the  confederate  government,  and  all  the  states 
composing  the  Confederacy.  The  soldiers  of  all  these  states  stood 
side  by  side,  on  the  battle  field,  with  the  soldiers  of  Virginia,  in  a 
struggle  without  parallel  in  the  history  of  the  world,  for  its  magni- 
tude, and  its  importance  to  the  present  generation  and  those  who  are 
to  succeed  us.  I  was  unwilling  to  do  any  thing  to  arouse  prejudices 
or  excite  ill  feeling  between  citizens  of  states  where  cordiality  and 
kindness  now  existed,  and  whose  sons,  martyrs  in  a  holy  cause,  sleep 


Doc.  No.  1.  xi 

quietly  and  soundly  in  a  common  grave,  the  dust  of  each  comming- 
ling with  the  other. 

Nor  was  I  willing  to  interfere  with  the  county  and  corporation 
contracts.  The  counties  and  corporations  which  had  made  these  con- 
tracts, had  exhibited  commendable  forecast  and  judgment  in  making 
provision  for  their  citizens.  Such  a  spirit  I  thought  deserved  encou- 
ragement. The  contracts  were  made  in  good  fliith — the  object  was 
laudable,  and  every  principle  of  justice,  in  my  judgment,  demanded 
their  observance  and  strict  fulfillment.  I  declined,  therefore,  to  in- 
terfere with  these  contracts,  so  as  to  leave  the  contracting  parties 
unembarrassed  by  any  act  of  mine.  Their  contracts  were  left  ^  I 
found  them,  in  every  respect  undisturbed  by  the  contract  which  I 
had  made  with  Stuart,  Palmer  &  Scott.  All  the  contracts  previously 
made  were  made  with  Stuart,  Buchanan  &  Co.,  a  separate  and  dis- 
tinct firm. 

A  copy  of  my  contract  with  Stuart,  Palmer  c^Scott  is  herewith 
transmitted ;  also  a  copy  of  my  proclamation,  providing  for  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  salt  acquired  under  that  contract,  and  the  previous 
proclamation  issued,  prohibiting  the  shipment  of  salt  over  the  rail 
roads  of  the  state. 

In  making  the  distribution,  such  counties  only  were  embraced  as 
could  be  reached,  the  object  being  to  make  the  purchase  available  to 
as  great  an  extent  as  possible,  for  the  relief  of  the  people.  All  doubt- 
ful counties  were  included  in  the  distribution,  and  those  only  were 
excluded  which  were,  in  whole  or  in  part,  under  the  control  of  the 
enemy. 

Shortly  after  the  adjournment  of  the  legislature,  I  directed  Quarter- 
master General  Smoot  to  adopt  such  measures  as  he  might  deem  ad- 
visable, to  procure  salt  from  the  Kanawha  works.  A  copy  of  the 
order  and  instructions  are  herewith  communicated.  If  the  orders 
issued  to  the  sheriifs  of  the  counties  had  been  promptly  complied 
with,  we  would  have  secured  at  least  one  hundred  thousand  bushels 
of  salt  from  these  works ;  but  parties  in  the  counties  immt^liately 
went  to  work  to  defeat  the  object  of  the  orders.  Owing  to  this  fact, 
the  movement  of  the  wagons  was  delayed  until  so  late  a  period  as 
to  prevent  them  from  reaching  the  Kanawha  valley  before  our  army 
was  compelled  to  retire  from  it.  My  object  was  therefore  defeated, 
and  the  supply  anticipated  from  this  source  was  lost  to  the  people  of 


xii  Doc.  No.  1. 

Virginia.     The  report  of  Major  Smoot  on  tliis  subject  is  iierew/ith 
transmitted. 

Defeated  in  procuring  salt  from  the  Kanawlia  Salines,  I  determined 
to  make  an  additional  contract  with  the  proprietors  at  Saltville. 
With  this  view,  I  directed  my  aid  dc  camp.  Col.  S.  Bassett  French, 
to  repair  to  Saltville,  and  make  an  additional  contract  to  an  amount 
not  exceeding  eighty  thousand  dollais,  and  to  secure  its  delivery  at 
the  earliest  period  practicable.  After  much  trouble  and  difficulty. 
Col.  French  succeeded  in  making  a  contract  for  thirty-four  thousand 
bushels,  deliverable  in  the  month  of  March  next,  upon  the  terms 
specified  in  my  contract  with  the  parties  of  Scott  &  Co.  Copies  of 
his  contract  and  report  are  herewith  communicated. 

I  ascertained,  during  the  visit  of  Col.  French  at  Saltville,  that  the 
state  line  required  eighteen  hundred  bushels  for  immediate  use,  for 
packing  purposes  for  beef  and  pork,  and  I  instructed  him  to  procure 
the  quantity  required.  I  supposed  it  would  be  furnished  without 
delay  or  difficulty ;  but  much  to  my  surprise,  the  proprietors,  who 
had  agreed  to  furnish  so  much  salt  as  the  state  line  might  require  in 
addition  to  the  amount  agreed  to  be  furnished  to  the  state,  declined 
to  supply  this  demand.  I  therefore  directed  Major  Smoot  to  proceed 
without  delay  to  Saltville,  and  impress  the  amount  required,  under 
the  act  of  assembly  ;  for  which,  see  Code,  edition  of  1860,  chapter  32, 
sections  Ist  and  2(1.  The  matter  was  arianged,  without  resorting  to 
the  exercise  of  the  power  referred  to.  A  copy  of  Major  Smoot's  re- 
port is  herewith  communicated. 

The  reports  of  Colonel  French  and  Mnjor  Smoot  present  clear  and 
intelligent  views  of  their  action  in  the  important  matters  committed 
to  their  management.  Their  duties  have  been  performed  faithfully, 
promptly,  and  to  my  entire  satisfaction. 

I  have  endeavored  to  perform  my  duty  faithfully  in  the  execution 
of  this  act  of  the  general  assembly.  It  has  been  tlie  most  perplex- 
ing and  embarrassing  duty  that  has  devolved  upon  me  as  tlie  execu- 
tive of  this  commonwealth.  If  the  works  had  been  purchased  last 
spring,  as  I  thought  they  should  have  been,  by  the  state,  we  would 
have  had  an  abundance  of  salt  for  the  wants  of  our  people,  and  could 
have  realized  from  the  property  a  sum  sufficient  to  have  paid  the  pur- 
chase money,  or  the  greater  portion  of  it,  the  past  year.  In  future 
years  it  would  have  paid  a  handsome  revenue  into  the  treasury. 


Doc.  No.  1.  xiii 

In  my  management  of  this  matter  I  have  honestly  labored  to  meet 
the  jifst  expectations  of  the  general  assembly.  If  I  have  succeeded, 
I  will  be  gratified.  If  I  have  failed,  I  will  hav^the  consciousness  of 
knowing  that  I  have  faithfully  endeavored  to  execute  the  law  in  its 
spirit  and  letter. 

The  "penitentiary. 

I  communicate  herewith,  the  report  of  the  directors  of  the  peni- 
tentiary, accompanied  by  the  reports  of  the  superintendent  and  the 
surgeon.  Eight  tables,  designed  to  show  the  operations  for  the  year 
ending  the  30th  September  last,  and  to  present  a  comparative  view 
of  its  operations  under  Colonel  Morgan  and  the  late  incumbent,  ac- 
company the  superintendent's  report.  I  frankly  confess  I  do  not  un- 
derstand these  accounts,  after  the  most  careful  examination.  It  ap- 
pears from  the  figures  tliat  the  profits  on  manufactures  in  the  several 
wards  have  amounted  for  the  year  to  upwards  of  S  35,000,  and  yet 
the  balance  against  the  institution  for  the  same  time  is  upwards  of 
$10,000.  In  other  words,  I  do  not  see  how  profits  should  have  been 
made  upon  every  branch  of  manufactures,  and  yet  the  institution 
should  not  have  been  able  to  pay  its  expenses,  and  at  the  same  time 
yield  something  very  handsome  to  the  state  treasury. 

On  the  9th  day  of  December  last  the  aggregate  number  of 

convicts  was  -  -  -  -  -  412 

White  male  convicts,  -  -  -        240 

White  female  convicts,       -  -  .  -  3 

—  243 
Free  negro  male  convicts,               -             -          25 

Free  negro  female  convicts,  -  -  7 

\  —  32 

Male  slave  convicts,  -  -  -  16 

Female  slave  convicts,       -  -  -  10 

—  26 
Making  a  total  in  the  penitentiary,  of  —  301 

There  are  hired  out,  of  male  free  iiegro  convicts  and  slave  convicts, 
94,  and  of  female  free  negro  and  slave  convicts,  13 — making  lOy.  In 
addition  to  thoj^,  are  four  children  (slaves)  between  the  ages  of  one 
and  four  years.  Some  provision  of  law  is  necessary  to  authorize 
these  infants  to  be  disposed  of  Perhaps  it  would  comport  with  the 
dictates  of  humanity  to  restore  them  to  the  former  owners  of  the 
mothers,  that  their  relatives  and  connexions  might  be  aflbrded  the 


xiv  Doc.  No.  1. 

opportunity  to  take  care  of  them  during  their  infancy.  In  conside- 
ration of  this  restoration,  the  owner  should  be  required  to  refund  a 
portion  of  the  valu<j  paid  him  by  the  state  for  the  mother. 

I  learn  from  the  report  of  the  superintendent  of  the  Georgia  peni- 
tentiary, that  the  clear  profits  of  this  institution  for  the  last  year 
amounted  to  the  sum  of  $27,774  74.  Of  this  sum  S  10,000  were 
paid  into  the  treasury,  and  the  residue  was  reserved  for  the  purchase 
of  materials  for  the  operations  of  the  present  year.  The  number  of 
convicts  in  this  institution  is  242. 

The  late  message  of  the  governor  of  Alabama  shows  that  a  balance 
of  S  27,000  is  on  hand,  after  the  payment  of  all  expenses,  as  the  net 
products  of  the  penitentiary  of  that  state.  The  number  of  convicts 
in  this  institution  is  205. 

These  are  the  results  in  the  only  states  from  w^hich  statistics  have 
been  received.  I  regret  that  I  have  received  no  reports  from  the 
other  states  of  the  Confederacy,  showing  the  condition  of  their  peni- 
tentiaries. I  would  be  glad  to  compare  the  results  of  their  manage- 
ment with  the  management  which  has  characterized  our  own.  The 
contrast  between  the  management  in  Georgia  and  Alabama  and  our 
own  penitentiary,  is  most  striking,  and  shows  how  inefficient,  negli- 
gent and  careless  has  been  the. management  here. 

The  total  number  of  convicts  employed  in  the  Virginia  peniten- 
tiary, in  manufacturing  and  mechanical  pursuits,  last  year,  was  298 — 
greater  by  56  than  the  number  in  Georgia,  and  greater  by  93  than 
the  number  in  Alabama.  With  the  demand  which  has  existed  in  the 
south,  for  a  year  past,  for  the  products  of  manufacturing  and  mecha- 
nical labor,  the  profits  of  the  Virginia  penitentiary  should  have  been 
proportionally  great.  Instead  of  this,  however,  the  result  is  that  the 
institution  is  a  burden  upon  the  state.  Of  the  residue  of  the  con- 
victs (107),  the  free  negro  and  slave  convicts  constitute  a  part.  They 
are  hired  to  the  owners  of  blast  furnaces  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  pig  iron  for  the  uses  and  purposes  of  the  Southern  Confederacy. 
The  remaining  convicts  are  in  feeble  health,  and  employed  in  light 
duties  about  the  penitentiary  and  public  square.        9 

On  the  16th  day  of  November  1860,  in  order  to  procure  raw  ma- 
terials for  the  use  of  the  penitentiary,  I  advanced  the  sum  of  $  2,500 
to  the  agent  and  storekeeper,  from  the  contingent  fund,  upon  the 


Doc.  No.  1.  XV 

assurance  that  it  should  be  returned  in  sixty  days,  taking  from  him 
bond  and  security.  This  sum  was  not  refunded  until  the  17th  day 
of  October  last. 

When  the  present  agent  and  storekeeper  entered  upon  his  duties, 
very  little  stock  was  on  hand,  and  that  little  was  unsaleable;  and  as 
his  predecessor  had  failed  to  pay  the  amount  due  in  his  hands,  means 
with  which  to  purchase  materials  were  wanting.  The  convicts  were 
unemployed  and  had  been  unemployed  much  of  the*year,  and  it  was 
necessary  that  funds  should  be  provided  with  which  to  procure  ma- 
terials and  supplies.  I  accordingly  advanced  five  thousand  dollars 
from  the  contingent  fund;  which  was  applied  to  these  objects,  and 
work  was  again  resumed.  It  has  been  found  exceedingly  difficult 
for  the  last  year  to  procure  materials  and  supplies  as  they  were 
needed;  but  if  prudence,  forecast  and  energy  had  been  exhibited  by 
those  charged  with  the  management,  an  ample  stock  could  have 
been  laid  in  for  the  year's  operations.  This  is  conclusively  demon- 
strated in  the  cases  of  Georgia  and  Alabama;  and  what  has  been 
done  in  those  states  could  have  been  done  in  Virginia,  if  those  in- 
vested with  the  management  and  control  had  possessed  ordinary 
business  qualifications. 

I  have  made  recommendations  in  regard  to  this  institution,  in 
several  previous  messages;  which  it  is  not  necessary  here  to  repeat, 
but  to  which  I  now  again  invite  your  attention;  and  I  particularly 
invite  the  attention  of  the  committees  on  the  penitentiary  to  them. 
I  regard  many  of  them  as  of  the  first  importance;  and  unless  some 
legislation  to  carry  them  out  shall  be  speedily  adopted,  serious  mis- 
chiefs will  in  my  judgment  result. 

On  the  night  of  the  5th  of  December  last  three  convicts  escaped 
from  the  penitentiary,  and  a  fourth  was  seriously  injured  in  the  at- 
tempt to  escape.  So  soon  as  the  fact  was  made  known  to  me,  I  or- 
dered an  investigation  to  be  made.  The  report  from  the  directors 
has  been  received,  and  is  herewith  transmitted.  • 

The  same  men  who  succeeded  in  making  their  escape  on  the  5th 
of  December  last,  made  an  ineffectual  efibrt  to  escape  in  the  month 
of  April  previous.  The  same  interior  guard  was  on  duty  on  both 
occasions,  and  were  found  asleep  in  the  guard  room,  if  I  am  correctly 
informed.  A  law  punishing  such  neglect  of  duty  should  be  passed 
immediately,  and  the  punishment  should  be  sufficiently  severe  to 


xvi  Doc.  No.  1. 

cure  the  evil.     Such  carelessness  and  negligence  might  result  in  the 
most  serious  and  alarming  consequences,  and  it  behooves  us  to  apply         I 
the  proper  remedy  at  the  earliest  moment. 

Compensation  of  clerks.  \ 

I  transmit  herewith  the  proceedings  of  a  meeting  of  the  clerks  of 
the  several  departments  of  the  government  of  the  state,  asking  for 
an  increase  of  compensation,  upon  the  principles  of  the  bill  passed 
by  congress  at  the  last  session.  It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  some 
action  shall  be  immediately  taken  upon  this  subject,  or  we  will  lose 
all  our  most  valuable  and  efficient  clerks.  Already  several  of  our 
best  clerks  have  resigned  and  entered  the  service  of  the  confederate 
government,  where  the  pay  is  better.  The  salaries  paid  by  the  state 
are  not  sufficient  for  their  support  in  this  day  of  extravagant  prices ; 
and  they  have  therefore  been  driven,  by  stern  necessity,  to  seek  new  po- 
sitions, where  the  compensation  will  secure  them  the  means  of  living. 

It  is  the  pride  and  boast  of  our  state  that  the  several  departments 
of  the  government  have  been  managed  by  competent  officers,  and  the 
public  business  has  been  dispatched  promptly  and  efficiently.  This 
has  been  owing  mainly  to  the  fact  that  our  clerks  were  kept  in  office 
so  long  as  they  were  faithful  and  attentive  to  their  duties;  and  being 
familiar  with  the  law  and  its  requirements,  they  dispatched  business 
accurately  and  promptly.  Clerks  of  intelligence,  educated  in  the 
branches  of  business  in  their  several  departments;  familiar  with  all 
the  details,*and  experienced  in  the  performance  of  their  duties,  are 
invaluable  in  the  management  of  the  operations  of  government. 
Of  such  is  the  corps  of  Virginia  clerks  composed ;  and  we  should  ^ 
have  wisdom  enough  to  adopt  a  policy  which  will  retain  them  in  our 
service.  The  heads  of  the  departments  have  important  duties  to 
perform,  that  engross  much  the  larger  portion  of  their  time,  and  it 
cannot  be  expected  that  they  can  educate  a  new  set  of  clerks  every 
six  or  twelve  months.  I  can  conceive  of  nothing  better  calculated 
to  prejudice  the^ublic  business,  delay  its  execution,  and  to  produce 
confusion,  than  frequent  changes  of  the  clerical  force,  which  tlTe 
government  is  compelled  to  employ  in  its  service.  Such  results 
ought  to  be  avoided,  and  they  can  be  avoided  by  doing  sheer  justice 
only  to  this  deserving  class  of  public  officers.  The  adoption  of  the 
policy  inaugurated  by  congress  will  solve  the  problem,  and  retain  in 
the  service  of  Virginia  a  corps  of  clerks  inferior  to  none  in  the  ser- 
vice of  either  of  the  states  of  the  Confederacy. 


Doc.  No.   1.  xvii 

Forgery  of  warr<nits  on  the  treasury. 

Since  your  late  adjournment,  forgeries  to  a  largo  amount  upon  the 
treasury  have  been  discovered.  When  the  fact  became  knov^-n  to 
me,  I  instructed  the  first  auditor  and  treasurer  to  make  a  report  of 
the  amount  of  the  forgeries,  and  all  the  attendant  circumstances. 
The  report  of  these  officers  is  herewith  communicated,  and  will  fur- 
nish full  information  as  to  their  number  and  amount,  and  the  facts 
connected  with,  as  well  as  the  result  of  the  examination  of  the  party 
suspected,  which  took  place  before  the  mayor  of  Richmond.  The 
genuine  signatures  of  the  auditor  and  treasurer  are  attached  to  but 
one  of  the  warrants.  This  warrant  is  for  $  59G,  and  was  paid  by 
the  Farmers  Bank  of  Virsrinia.  All  the  others  were  absolute  forjre- 
ries,  and  are  losses  sustained  by  the  banks,  and  not  by  the  state. 
When  they  are  examined,  it  is  surprising,  with  the  erasures  and  i^^ter- 
lineations  upon  the  face,  they  did  not  excite  suspicion,  and  thus  lead 
to  the  arrest  of  the  guilty  parties  who  presented  them  at  the  banks 
for  payment.     I  commend  the  subject  'to  your  attention. 

The  land  office. 

In  a  previous  message,  I  presented  my  views  in  regard  to  this  de- 
partment, and  amongst  other  things,  recommended  that  the  issue  of 
pa^tents  should  cease.  I  am  satisfied  that  there  must  be  very  little  if 
any  vacant  land  in  the  state;  and  under  these  circumstances,  the  is- 
suance of  patents  is  calculated  to  encourage  fraud,  and  furnish  the 
means  of  imposition  upon  the  ignorant  and  unsuspecting :  and  be- 
sides, the  conthiuance  of  the  present  system  is  well  calculated  to 
keep  land  titles  unsettled,  and  thereb}^  increase  litigation.  Popula- 
tion is  not  likQly  to  seek  a  settlement  where  titles  are  uncertain,  and 
where  parties  are  compelled  to  take  with  their  purchases  the  ex- 
penses of  long  and  angry  controversies. 

Since  the  state  withdrew  from  the  federal  Union,  I  have  taken  the 
responsibility  of  refusing  to  sign  patents  for  land  in  the  disloyal 
counties,  and  in  other  counties  I  have  withheld  my  signature,  where 
I  had  no  satisfactory  assurance  that  the  parties  applying  for  the 
patents  were  loyal  and  faithful  citizens,  true  alike  to  the  state  and 
the  Confederacy.  It  is  impossible  to  procure  conclusive  evidence  ia 
these  cases ;  and  the  consequence  has  been,  that  the  register  and 
myself  have  been  compelled  to  rely  on  such  information  as  we  could 
get  from  persons  visiting  the  capital, 
iii 


xviii  Doc.  No.  1. 

I  recommend,  therefore,  that  the  issue  of  land  patents  be  discon- 
tinued, and  that  the  books  and  papers  be  confided  to  the  custody  of 
the  register,  wlio  can  respond  to  all  calls  for  patents  and  plats  as 
they  may  be  required  by  parties,  in  connection  with  legal  controver- 
sies now  existing,  or  which  may  hereafter  arise,  growing  out  of  con- 
flicts to  titles  for  lands. 

Act-  concerning  slaves  for  ivork  on  fortifications. 

This  act,  which  passed  near  the  close  of  your  last  session,  requires 
amendment  in  several  respects ;  and  I  invite  j^our  early  attention  to 
the  modifications  I  suggest. 

The  first  provision  of  the  law  is  defective  in  this,  that  it  does  not 
prescribe  with  cei'tainty  the  mode  of  ascertaining  the  slave  popula- 
tion of  the  counties,  cities  and  towns.  The  calls  made  upon  me 
under  this  law  have  been  predicated  upon  the  census  of  1860;  and^ 
in  many  of  the  counties,  cities  and  towns  called  upon,  the  slave 
population,  by  the  casualties  of  'the  war,  has  been  very  seriously  re- 
duced ;  and  in  addition,  the  draft  falls  with  peculiar  severity  upon 
the  people,  who  can  illy  afford  to  part  with  their  available  labor. 
They  have  been  severe  sufferers  from  the  war,  by  the  reduction  of 
their  laboring  force  and  the  overrunning  of  their  territory,  and  some 
regard  should  be  paid  to  these  considerations  in  all  such  cases. 

In  the  second  place — the  act  requires  the  confederate  government 
to  pay  the  value  of  all  slaves  that  may  escape  and  not  return  to  their 
owners,  or  that  may  be  seized  or  killed  by  the  public  enemy,  or  by" 
the  want  of  due  diligence,  or  lost  in  any  other  manner,  or  that  shall 
be  injured  by  want  of  proper  care.  But  it  contains  no  provision 
declaring  the  manner  by  which  the  value  of  the  slave  "is  to  be  ascer- 
tained before  he  enters  the  service.  The  law  should  be  explicit  upon 
this  point ;  and  when  the  value  is  ascertained,  it  should  be  regarded 
as  conclusive.  When  I  have  been  consulted  in  regard  to  it,  I  have 
made  it  a  rule  to  advise  that  it  was  the  duty  of  the  courts  either  to 
fix  the  value,  or  designate  reliable  and  judicious  men  to  do  so,  and 
file  the  record  of  valuation  in  the  clerk's  office  of  the  county  court. 

In  the  third  place — the  act  declares,  "  slaves  hired  by  individuals 
having  other  slaves,  shall  be  regarded  as  in  the  possession  of  their 
owners,  and  classed  accordingly  in  regard  to  confederate  service." 
In  many  instances  which  have  been  brought  to  my  notice,  the  owner 


Doc.  No.  1.  xix 

and  the  hirer  have  been  chargcfl  with  the  same  slaves,  and  both 
have  been  required  to  make  contributions  npon  tliis  basis  of  calcula- 
tion. This  is  clearly  unjust,  and  could  not  have  been  contemplated 
when  the  act  was  passed.  An  owner  of  slaves  may  have  fifty,  and 
all  the  valuable  males  may  be  hired,  loavini];  none  in  his  possession 
except  women  and  children.  How  is  such  an  one  to  comply  with 
the  requisition,  without  witlidiawing  his  hired  slaves,  and  thereby 
incur  the  hazard  of  losing  his  hires,  by  taking  the  slaves  away  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  party  hiring  them  '?  In  sucli  cases,  the  own- 
ers could,  if  the  law  pjM-mittcd  it  to  bo  done,  substitute  free  negroes, 
who  would  in  many  instances  be  entirely  willing  to  render  service  for 
the  compensation  provided  by  the  law,  especially  as  this  sum  would 
be  increased  by  the  sum  each  would  receive  from  the  owner.  An 
amendment  authorizing  the  adoption  of  the  policy  indicated  would, 
in  my  judgment,  be  wise,  and  would  give  great  relief  in  many  por- 
tions of  the  state.  I  do  not  see  that  the  principle  of  substitution 
would  operate  prejudicially  in  any  respect. 

Ill  the  fourth  place — the  governor  is  required  1o  equalize  (as  nearly 
as  may  be)  the  l>urden  between  the  counties,  cities  and  towns,  and 
also  between  the  citizens,  due  regard  being  had  to  tlie  number  of 
slaves  theretofore  furnished  for  confederate  service.  It  is  impossible 
to  perform  this  duty,  because  the  slaves  have  not  been  heretofore  or- 
dered into  service  by  the  governor,  nor  have  rolls,  showing  the  ser- 
vice, been  returned  to  him.  Hence  I  have  relied  upon  the  chief  of 
the  engineer  bureau  of  the  confederate  government,  who  has  all  this 
information  in  his  possession  ;  and  I  am  glad  to  believe  that  in  mak- 
ing the  calls,  this  requirement  of  the  law  has  been  carefully  observed. 

This  law  is  exceedingly  distasteful  to  many  of  our  citizens — not 
because  they  are  unwilling  to  make  all  necessary  sacrifices  for  the 
cause  and  the  "country,  bat  because  the  law  is  so  indefinite  in  its 
terms,  that  there  has  been  no  uniform  construction.  The  amend- 
ments indicated  would,  I  think,  have  the  effect  of  removing  the  ob- 
jections of  mau}^,  and  if  the  law  is  to  continue  for  any  considerable 
length  of  time,  would  perhaps  reconcile  the  people  to  it. 

♦  The  war  has  operated  most  oppressively  on  our  people  in  Virginia, 
and  it  becomes  us,  while  we  perform  our  duty  to  ourselves  and  to 
the  conftderate  government,  so  to  frame  our  legislation  as  to  make 
the  burden  bear  as  lightly  as  possible  upon  them.  We  have  already 
lost  untold  millions  in  slave  and  other  personal  property  and  in  the 


XX  Doc.  No.  1. 

devastation  of  our  territory.  Our  losses  have  been  very  heavy — 
exceeding  greatly,  I  apprehend,  the  losses  of  the  people  of  any  other 
state,  in  this  war.  Our  citizens  have  submitted  to  them,  with  a  for- 
titude in  the  highest  degree  commendable.  The  multiplied  wrongs 
and  outrages  inliictcd  upon  them  by  the  enemy,  have  had  -no  other 
effect  than  to  sti'engthen  their  resolution,  and  arouse  them  to  a  more 
determined  purpose  to  succeed  in  the  struggle  in  which  we  are 
engaged. 

Rucker^s  case. 

The  confederate  government  turned  over  to  me  this  notorious  cri- 
minal, tor  trial  (or  his  numerous  offences  against  the  laws  of  Virginia, 
on  the  Gill  day  of  October  last.  He  was  immediately  sent  to  Alle- 
ghany county,  and  was  subsequently  indicted  by  the  grand  jury  in 
several  cases.  As  the  cases  possess  uncommon  interest  and  impor- 
tance, I  felt  it  to  be  my  duty  to  instruct  the  attorney  general  to 
attend  aiid  aid  in  conducting  the  prosecution.  The  report  of  this 
distinguished  and  able  officer  is  herewith  transmitted,  and  to  it  I 
refer  you  for  full  infonnation  respecting  the  proceedings,  as  far  as 
they  have  progressed. 

Justices  of  the  iieace  and  other  officers. 

I  have  received  information  that  several  of  the  justices  of  the 
peace  in  Mercer  county  have  taken  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
federal  government.  The  first  question  that  presented  itself  was, 
whether  their  offices  thereby  became  vacant.  This  question  was 
presented  to  the  attorney  general  for  his  opinion,  and  I  regret  to  say 
that  this  experienced  officer  can  find  "  no  law  vacating  their  offices 
ywo  facto.''''  As  there  are  doubtless  many  cases  of  likti  kind  in  the 
state,  I  earnestly  invoke  your  attention  to  the  adoption  of  the  neces- 
sary legislation  to  relieve  the  state  from  all  such  unworthy  officers. 
The  cases  can  be  reached  by  investing  the  county  courts  with  autho- 
rity, where  the  fact  is  established,  to  declare  the  offices  vacant.  The 
law  should  be  made  applicable  to  sheriffs,  coroners,  clerks,  consta- 
bles, &c. 

Legislative  resolutions. 

A  resolution,  requesting  information  as  to  "whether  any  free  ne- 
groes claiming  to  be  from  the  United  States,  invading  the  soil  of  this 
state  in  violation  of  its  laws,  and  captured  by  the  armies  of  the  Con- 
federate States,  have  been  surrendered  by  the  confederate  authorities; 


k 


Doc.  No.  1.  xxi 

and  if  so,  upon  what  ground  such  surrender  has  been  made,"  was 
adopted  by  the  house  of  delegates  September  22d  last.  On  the  same 
day  I  transmitted  a  copy  of  the  resolution  to  the  honorable  secretary 
of  war,  with  the  request  in  writing  that  he  would  furnish  the  infor- 
mation desired,  at  his  earliest  convenience.  On  the  21st  November 
last  a  reply  was  received  from  the  assistant  secretary  of  war,  enclos- 
ing a  report  from  Commissioner  Ould,  both  of  which  accompany  this 
communication. 

The  senate  ad(:^ited  a  resolution  September  24th  last,  requesting 
the  govei-nor  "  to  enquire  of  the  confederate  authorities,  1st,  what 
number  of  slaves  and  free  negroes  have  been  captured  by  our  armies; 
2d,  what  disposition  has  been  made  of  the  same ;  3d,  how  the  own- 
ers of  said  slaves  may  obtain  possession  of  them  :"  and  the  governor 
was  "further  requested  to  procure  a  list  of  the  said  slaves,  and  of 
their  owneis'  names,  so  far  as.  practicable,  and  cause  the  same  to  be 
published  for  general  information  ;  and  that  he  also  be  requested  to 
communicate  the  same  to  the  senate."  This  resolution  was  trans- 
mitted to  the  honorable  secretary  of  war,  on  the  day  of  its  adoption, 
with  a  request,  in  writing,  for  the  information  asked  for,  at  his  earliest 
convenience.  No  answer  has  been  received  to  this  application  ;  and 
I  have  therefore  been  unable  to  carry  out  the  instructions  of  the 
senate. 

The  lunatic  asylums. 

I  have  received  a  report  from  the  directors  of  the  asylum  at 
Staunton,  and  am  gratified  to  assure  you  that  it  continues  to  be 
manaued  with  the  ability  and  success  which  has  ever  characterized 
its  accomplished  superintendent.  The  institution  is  filled  with  pa- 
tients, and  I  regret  to  say  that  numerous  applicants  of  this  unfortu- 
nate class  of  our  citizens  for  admission,  have  to  be  rejected.  With 
ev(My  disposition  to  accommodate,  it  is  found  impossible  to  receive 
another  patient. 

The  enemy  still  being  in  possession  of  Williamsburg,  I  have  been 
unable  to  procure  reliable  information  as  to  the  condition  and  ma- 
nagement of  the  asylum  located  at  that  place.  I  have,  however, 
ascertained,  that  shortly  after  the  city  was  taken.  Doctor  Gait  and 
the  assistant  physician  both  departed  this  life.  Tiieir  places  have 
been  supplied  by  two  physicians  from  the  north,  and  at  the  latest 
dates  they  continued  in  the  performance  of  their  duties.     All  the 


xxii  Doc.  No.  1. 

officers  who  were  in  charge  when  the  enemy  took  possession  of  the 
place,  resigned,  because  they  were  required  to  take  an  oath  of  alle- 
giance to  the  federal  government.  Subsequently,  the  larger  portion, 
at  the  request  of  the  federal  authorities,  resumed  their  places,  and 
are  still  in  office.  It  is  just  to  them  to  state  tliat  nothing  was  said 
about  the  oath  when  they  returned,  and  they  have  exhibited  their 
devotion  to  the  commonwealth,  by  adhering  to  her  fortunes,  and  re- 
fusing to  acknowledge  their  allegiance  to  the  government  of  our 

enemies. 

\ 

Two  discharged  patients  made  their  way  to  Eichmond  some  weeks 
since.  They  informed  me  that  the  medical  attendants  were  faithful 
and  attentive,  and  they  believed  were  well  qualified  for  their  posi- 
tions. The  supplies  were  ample  for  their  support,  but  were  badly 
prepared,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  controlling  the  servants.  They 
further  stated  that  when  their  orders  of  discharije  were  delivered, 
they  were  informed  that  neither  money  nor  provisions  could  be  fur- 
nished, and  they  must  make  their  way  to  Richmond  as  best  they 
could.  After  much  toil  and  suffering,  they  arrived  here;  and  after 
being  informed  of  their  destitute  condition,  I  applied  for  their  relief, 
from  the  civil  contingent  fund,  a  sum  sufficient  to  enable  them  to 
reach  their  homes.  The  one  resided  in  Pittsylvania,  and  the  other 
in  Floyd  county. 

Some  months  ago,  having  heard  the  most  distressing  reports  as  to 
the  condition  of  the  lunatics,  I  determined  to  enquire  into  the  truth 
of  these  reports,  by  sending  Col.  Ewell,  late  president  of  William 
and  Mary  college,  and  Mr.  Custis  of  the  house  of  delegates,  to  make 
a  careful  examination,  and  report  the  results.  General  G.  W.  Smith, 
a  gallant  officer,  and  a  kind  hearted  and  humane  gentleman,  readily 
assented  to  allow  a  flag  of  truce ;  but  the  federal  authorities  refused 
to  permit  these  gentlemen  to  pass  within  their  lines.  This  attempt 
on  m}^  part  to  relieve  these  poor  helpless  people  was  thus  defeated, 
and  I  am  therefore  unable  to  speak  more  definitely  respecting  the 
manacrement  of  the  institution  and  the  condition  of  its  inmates. 


'&^ 


I  cannot  permit  this  occasion  to  pass,  v/itliout  placing  on  record 
my  unqualified  condemnation  of  the  action  of  the  federal  authorities 
in  this  matter,  and  my  protest  against  it,  as  a  scandalous  outrage 
upon  the  principles  of  civilizati^on  and  the  dictates  of  christian  hu- 
manity. 


Doc.  No.  1.  xxiii 

William  and  Mai-y  college. 

This  is  the  oldest  literary  institution  in  this  country,  with  the 
single  exception  of  Harvard  university.  The  original  eharter  of  the 
college  was  granted  by  William  and  Mary  on  the  Sth  day  of  Febru- 
ary in  the  year  1692,  and  it  has  continued  an  institution  of  learning 
of  high  character  and  great  merit,  dispensing  the  benefits  and  bless- 
ings of  education  to  thousands,  up  to  the  period  when  this  war  broke 
out.  Its  graduates  and  students  and  their  descendants  are  to  be 
found  in  almost  all  the  states  that  constituted  the  late  United  States. 
No  institution  has  done  more  for  tlie  cause  of  education,  science  and 
literature,  than  this  venerable  college. 

Three  times  has  it  been  reduced  to  ashes.  It  was  first  destroyed 
and  rebuilt  in  the  year  1721  ;  again  in  the  year  18-57,  and  rebuilt  by 
voluntary  oontributions — and  nnally  destroyed  in  the  summer  of 
1S()2,  after  the  enemy  had  taken  possession  of  the  city  of  Williams- 
burg. The  buildings  had  been  used  as  a  place  of  deposit  by  the 
enemy  for  their  commissary  and  quartermaster  stores;  and  it  was  not 
until  these  were  removed,  as  I  am  informed,  that  the  buildings  were 
burned.  Thus,  we  have  another  evidence  of  the  vandal  spirit  which 
animates  the  yankee  army.  The  antiquity  of  an  institution  of  learn- 
ing, or  the  benefits  it  has  conferred  upon  mankind,  secures  no  pro- 
tection against  such  a  foe  as  we  are  fighting.  With  them  nothing  is 
sacred.  Neither  personal  rights,  private  property  nor  charitable  or 
literary  institutions  are  entitled  to  their  respect  or  protection.  Their 
mission  is  the  subjugation  of  the  south,  and  they  are  foolish  enough 
to  think  their  policy  will  strike  terror  to  the  hearts  of  the  southern 
people,  and  finally  force  them  into  subjection  to  northern  power. 
What  a  miscalculation!  The  outrages  they  have  committed,  the 
enormities  they  have  perpetrated,  have  aroused  and  inflamed  the 
southern  mind,  and  have  intensified  southern  feeling  to  an  extent 
that  will  do  all,  dare  all,  and  submit  to  all  that  northern  diabolism 
can  inflict,  before  they  will  ever  consent  to  a  reconstruction  of  the 
government  of  the  United  States.  They  have  "poured  the  sweet 
milk  of  concord  into  hell,"  and  our  future  relations  must  be  those  of 
enemies. 

Virginia  military  institute. 

I  transmit  the  report  of  the  board  of  visitors  of  the  military  insti- 
tute for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1862,  accompanied  by  the  reports 


xxiv  Doc.  No.  1. 

of  the  superintendent,  the  surgeon  and  the  treasurer,  and  also  the 
correspondence  between  General  T.  J.  Jackson,  connnanding  con- 
federate forces,  requesting  the  services  of  the  cadets  in  his  proposed 
attack  on  Milb'oy,  and  General  F.  H.  Smith,  superintendent,,  to  which 
I  invite  your  particular  attention.  I  regard  these  as  decidedly  the 
most  interesting  reports  that  have  emanated  from  the  officers  of  the 
institute  since  its  organization.  The  report  of  the  intelligent  super- 
intendent cannot  fail  to  interest  most  deeply  every  son  of  Virginia, 
and  he  will  rise  from  its  perusal  with  a  feeling  of  pride  in  learning 
what  services  have  been  rendered  in  this  struggle  for  independence 
by  its  cadets.  This  institution  has  done  much  to  aid  our  cause,  and 
its  eleves  have  rendered  services  in  this  w^ar,  which  have  amply  com- 
pensated Virginia  for  all  the  expenditures  she  has  been  called  upon 
to  make.  Indeed,  it  is  difficult  to  estimate  its  value  ;  but  it  is  easy 
for  even  the  casual  observer  to  see  that  we  would  have  been  most 
seriously  embarrassed  in  the  origin  of  the  war,  if  we  had  not  been 
able  at  that  important  moment  to  call  upon  this  educated  military 
talent  to  aid  in  drilling  and  organizing  our  inexperienced  volimteers. 

The  institute  has  furnished  eight  brigadier  generals,  fifty-six  colo- 
nels, thirty-nine  lieutenant  colonels,  thirty-eight  majors,  one  hundred 
and  ten  captains,  one  hundred  and  sixteen  lieutenants,  twelve  aids  de 
camp,  twenty-six  adjutants  of  regiments,  and  thirty-four  assistant 
adjutant  generals,  surgeons,  quartermasters  and  commissaries — making 
a  total  of  four  hundrecl  and  forty.  Of  these,  fifty-seven  have  been 
killed,  and  seventy-three  wounded  in  battle,  and  eight  have  died  in 
service — making  a  total  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight.  When  it 
is  recollected  that  these  results  are  founded  upon  incomplete  returns, 
we  may  well  conclude  that  the  Virginia  military  institute  lias  ren- 
dered services  valuable  beyond  comjiarison  with  those  rendered  by 
any  other  similar  institution  in  the  Confederacy.  Its  claims,  there- 
fore, upon  the  state  are  strong,  and  whatever  aid  may  be  required  to 
^enlarge  its  sphere  of  usefulness,  will  meet  with  a  ready  response 
from  the  general  assembly,  especially  when  it  is  considered  that  this 
war  may  last  for  years. 

The  number  of  cadets  at  the  institute  at  this  time  is  upwards  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty.  All  the  embarrassments  and  difficulties 
which  attended  the  reopening  of  the  institute  in  January  last  (and 
they  were  many),  have  been  happily  overcome  by  the  indomitable 
perseverance,  energy  and  judgment  of  the  superintendent  and  his  as- 


Doc.  No.  1.  XXV 

sistants.  The  school  is  in  a  most  flourishing  condition — more  so  than 
at  any  previous  period  in  its  history.  The  number  of  cadets  could 
have  been  much  increased,  if  accommodations  could  have  been  pro- 
vided for  all  who  made  application  for  admission. 

I  invito  your  attention  to  the  report  of  the  surgeon,  and  particularly 
to  that  portion  which  relates  to  increased  hospital  accommodations. 
His  suggestions  are  sound,  in  my  judgment,  and  I  commend  them  to 
the  favorable  consideration  of  the  legislature. 

University  of  Virginia. 

I  have  received  no  report  or  other  authentic  information  as  to  the 
condition  of  this  valuable  institution,  since  it  was  reopened.  If  in- 
formation shall  be  received  during  your  session,  it  wi!l  be  specially 
communicated. 

Extortion. 

In  the  laws  and  moral  government  of  God,  extortion  is  considered 
a  high  crime;  and  the  extortioner  is  uniformly  associated  in  his  Word, 
with  idolaters,  with  the  covetous,  thieves,  drunkards,  adulterers,  for- 
nicators and  revilers.  Against  this  prevailing  crime  and  those  who 
commit  it,  the  president  of  the  Confederate  States,  in  a  recent  com- 
munication, appeals  to  me  to  invoke  action  on  the  part  of  the  general 
assembly.  He  says,  "I  beg  respectfully  to  ask  the  aid  of  the  execu- 
tives of  the  several  states  in  recommending  to  the  several  legislatures," 
"  the  adoption  of  some  measures  to  suppress  the  shameful  extortion 
now  practiced  upon  the  people  by  men  who  can  be  reached  by  no 
moral  influence,  and  who  are  worse  enemies  of  the  Confederacy  than 
if  found  in  arms  among  the  invading  forces.  The  armies  in  the  field, 
as  well  as  the  families  of  soldiers  and  others  of  the  people  at  home, 
are  the  prey  of  these  mercenaries;  and  it  is  only  through  state  action 
that  their  traffic  can  be  suppressed.  Their  condign  punishment  is 
ardently  desired  by  every  patriot." 

I  cordially  endorse  all  that  the  president  says  in  this  extract  from 
his  letter.  If  the  members  of  the  general  assembly  could  have 
heard,  as  I  have  been  compelled  to  hear,  day  after  day,  the  appeals 
of  mothers  and  sisters  and  children  of  soldiers,  whose  husbands, 
brothers  and  fathers  are  now  and  have  been,  from  the  commence- 
ment of  this  atrocious  war,  in  the  field  defending  the  freedom  and 
protecting  the  persons  and  property  of  these  extortioners,  they  would 
feel  the  necessity  of  doing  something  for  their  relief., 
iv 


XX vi  Doc.  No.  1. 

Mothers,  respectable  in  appearance,  of  refined  manners,  who  have 
evidently  seen  better  days,  have  come  to  me  with  children  in  their 
anus,  and  whose  husbands  w^ere  in  the  field,  and  have  appealed  to  me 
to  secure  them  some  place  where  the}^  and  their  little  ones  could  be 
sheltered  from  the  storm.  They  had  been  turned  out  of  their  houses, 
and  were  unable  to  secure  others  in  which  to  live.  Rents  had  in- 
creased, and  they  could  not  pay  them  out  of  the  small  pittance  re- 
ceived by  their  husbands  for  their  services.  Avarice  clutched  every 
cent  that  could  be  had,  in  the  way  of  increase  for  rent,  bread  and  all 
family  necessaries;  and  the  wife  of  the  soldier  being  outbid,  she  had 
of  course  to  surrender  her  home.  This  should  not  be.  The  soldier's 
family  should  be  protected  and  provided  for,  and  he  should  have  it 
to  say,  when  he  returns,  the  government  has  protected  those  who 
were  dearer  to  me  than  life,  while  I  have  been  absent  fighting  its 
battles  for  freedom.  If  he  is  assured  his  family  is  protected,  he  will 
fight  cheerfully  for  his  country,  and  will  bless  the  country  and  up- 
hold its  institutions  when  peace  shall  be  established.  In  all  after 
time,  as  a  general  principle,  he  will  be  found  a  true  and  loyal  citi- 
zen, faithful  to  the  governments,  state  and  confederate. 

A  single  example  will  show  w^hat  enormous  profits  are  being  made 
in  one  branch  of  manufacture  in  our  state.  I  have  it  from  undoubted 
authority,  that  a  cotton  manufacturing  company  has  already  divided 
seventy-five  per  cent,  of  profits,  and  will  divide  twenty-five  per  cent, 
more  at  the  close  of  the  year — making  a  clear  profit  in  twelve  months, 
of  one  hundred  per  cent,  upon  the  capital  stock.  Other  branches  of 
manufacture  are  doubtless  paying  profits  equally  large,  exhibiting  an 
unhealthy  condition  of  things,  that  requires  the  application  of  severe 
remedies.  If  the  extortioner  will  not  release  his  gripe,  let  the  legis- 
lature so  frame  the  tax  bill  as  to  make  him  contribute  a  fair  propor- 
tion of  his  enormous  gains  to  the  support  of  the  government.  As 
long  as  he  can  make  such  profits,  the  war  is  a  blessing  to  him,  and 
its  termination  the  last  thing  he  desires  to  see  brought  about.  He 
thinks  alone  of  his  gains — not  of  his  country  nor  his  country's  cause. 

The  conscription  bill,  in  its  operation,  takes  possession  of  indivi- 
duals, and  puts  them  in  service  in  our  armies,  without  their  consent. 
If  the  persons  of  men  can  be  taken  for  the  service  of  the  country, 
why  cannot  property  and  the  enormous  profits  of  the  extortioner  be 
taken  possession  of  in  the  same  summary  mode,  to  aid  the  country's 
cause?     Is  property  acquired,  or  profits  wrung  by  the  extortioner 


Doc.  No.  1.  xxvii 

from  the  necessities  of  the  people,  more  sacred  than  the  person  of 
the  citizen  ?  The  personal  liberty  of  the  citizen  rises  far  above  all 
questions  of  property,  or  pecuniary  profits,  under  our  government. 

The  law  presented  at  your  last  session  is  in  most  respects^a  good 
one ;  and  I  recommend  that  you  take  it  up,  amend  it  as  you  may 
think  necessary,  preserving  the  principle  on  which  it  is  founded,  and 
pass  it.     I  am  of  opinion  it  will  produce  good  results. 

The  prisoners  captured  bij  the  state  line. 

One  hundred  and  eighteen  of  the  prisoners  captured  by  the  state 
line  in  the  brilliant  affairs  at  Prestonsburg  and  Pikeville  in  Kentucky, 
arrived  here  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  last  month.  I  have  had 
preparations  made  for  their  safe  keeping,  and  I  have  announced  to 
the  president  of  the  United  States  the  terms  upon  which  exchanges 
can  alone  be  made.  In  the  mean  time  I  have  placed  in  the  peniten- 
tiary, and  put  at  hard  work,  Capt.  Gramm  and  Lieut.  Wade,  who 
are  to  remain  at  hard  work  as  hostages  for  Capt.  Duskey  and  Lieut. 
Vanner,  now  in  confinement  in  the  district  penitentiary  at  Wash- 
ington city. 

I  have  also  placed  in  solitary  confinement  Captain  Thomas  Dam- 
ron  and  Lieutenant  Wilson  Damron,  and  privates  John  W.  Howe, 
Isaac  Goble,  David  V.  Auxier,  Samuel  Pack  and  William  S.  Dills, 
who  are  held  as  hostages  for  the  gallant  Zarvona,  who  has  been  in 
confinement  since  July  ISGl,  and  who  has  been  treated  (if  the  half 
I  hear  is  true)  with  a  brutality  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  civi- 
lized warfare.  Five  others,  deserters  from  the  confederate  service, 
have  been  turned  over  for  trial.  The  other  prisoners  are  confined 
and  treated  as  prisoners  of  war,  not  to  be  released  (with  my  consent) 
until  some  general  rule  shall  be  ado[>ted  in  regard  to  prisoners  and 
private  citizens,  which  shall  be  just  and  honorable  to  the  people  of 
Virginia,  and  which  will  preserve  their  rights  in  future. 

I  rejoice  at  this  capture,  made  by  General  Floyd,  as  it  furnishes  me 
the  opportunity  to  demonstrate  that  Virginia  is  a  sovereign  state,  with^ 
the  power  and  the  will  on  the  part  of  her  executive  to  defend  the 
officers  holding  her  commissions,  and  protect  her  citizens.  If  the 
state  line  shall  accomplish  no  other  result  than  it  has  effected,  it  will 
have  established  its  reputation  for  valuable  service,  and  will  have 
secured  an  honorable  place  in  history,  connected  with  this  war. 


xxviii  Doc.  No.  1. 

I  invite  your  attention  to  the  report  of  Major  General  Floyd,  here- 
with communicated,  and  I  commend  it  to  your  consideration.  It  will 
doubtless  prove  highly  interesting  to  the  general  assembly,  and  will 
satisfy  them  that  the  state  force  has  accomplished  valuable  results —  J 

results  showing  it  deserving  of  the  fostering  care  of  the  legislature.  ^ 
It  has  captured  stores  and  other  property  equal  in  value  to  near  half 
a  million  of  dollars,  and  has  effected  the  demoralization  of  the  op- 
posing force,  and  inspired  a  wholesome  dread  amongst  them.  This 
raid  has  been  pronounced  by  the  enemy  one  of  the  most  destructive 
they  have  suffered  ;  and  Major  General  Floyd  deserves  the  thanks  of 
Virginia  for  the  judgment  in  its  conception,  and  the  skill  and  energy 
he  has  displayed  in  its  execution.  Give  him  his  ten  thousand  men, 
and  he  will  do  more  for  western  Virginia  than  any  other  eommander 
is  likely  to  accomplish,  for  the  relief  of  that  section  of  the  state. 
Colonel  Clarkson  and  his  gallant  boys  are  not  to  be  forgotten. 

The  state  rn7\^ers. 

Under  the  act  organizing  tlie  companies  of  rangers,  the  term  of 
service  was  declared  to  be  twelve  months.  In  the  month  of  August 
last  I  directed  all  the  companies  to  report  to  Major  General  Floyd. 
This  gentleman  had,  at  the  request  of  the  general  assembly,  been 
commissioned  a  major  general,  and  I  deemed  it  advisable,  therefore, 
to  place  all  state  forces  under  his  command.  The  term  of  service  of 
some  of  the  companies  has  expired ;  but  regarding  the  defence  of 
western.  Vii'ginia  as  of  the  utmost  importance,  and  knowing  of  no  ( 

means  of  defence  likely  to  prove  so  successful,  I  have  retained  them. 
Under  all  the  circumstances,  I  thought  it  advisable  to  await  the  as- 
sembling of  the  legislature,  when  such  action  could  be  taken  as 
would  bo  considered  wise  and  proper.     So  long  as  the  state  line  shall 
be  kept  up,  I  consider  it  judicious  to  retain  the  rangers,  to  act  in 
concert  with  the  forces  of  the  state  line,  and  to  be  under  the  com-^lii 
mand  of  General  Floyd.     It  is,  however,  for  you  to  determine  whe-l(^lj 
ther  they  shall  be  disbanded  at  the  end  of  twelve  months,  or  whe-Xx^ 
ther  they  shall  be  retained  in  service  for  a -longer  time. 

The  report  of  the  adjutant  general. 

I  commend  this  report  to  your  consideration.  The  necessity  of 
onranizinff  a  force  for  home  defence,  at  this  time,  will  strike  the  minds 
of  the  general  assembly.  It  is  of  the  first  importance ;  and  I  com- 
mend its  suggestions  to  your  consideration  and  approval.     They  ap- 


Doc.  No.  1.  xxix 

pear  to  me  in  all  respects  to  be  eminently  judicious  ant!  proper,  under 
the  circumstances;  and  emanating  from  so  experienced  an  officer 
they  are  entitled  to  great  consideration  and  favor. 

Ordnance  deparfment. 

The  report  of  the  ordnance  department  is  herewith  presented,  and 
shows  that  the  valuable  officer  at  the  head  of  it  has  discharged  his 
duty  with  that  fidelity  and  ability  w'hicli  he  has  always  heretofore 
exhibited.  He  has  rendered  valuable  services  from  the  beginning  of 
the  war  to  the  present  time.  His  attention,  his  energy,  industr}'^  and 
practical  judgment  have  been  fully  developed,  in  this  important  posi- 
tion, and  the  state  owes  him  a  large  debt  of  gratitude. 

The  quartermaster  generaVs  deimrtment. 

The  duties  of  this  department  have  been  discharged  with  consum- 
mate skill,  ability,  industry  and  fidelity.  Col.  Smoot  has  been  in  the 
service  of  the  state  since  the  war  commenced  ;  and  a  more  untiring 
and  laborious  officer  I  have  never  known  in  any  service.  His  busi- 
ness has  been  managed  with  system  and  order;  his  accounts  have 
been  regularly  settled  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  auditing  board ;  and 
he  has  been  prompt  in  the  execution  of  the  orders  which  have  been 
from  time  to  time  issued  to  him.  His  purchases  for  the  state  line, 
in  price  and  quality,  will  compare  most  favorably  with  those  made 
for  the  confederate  government,  by  its  officers  and  agents,  during  the 
same  period.     He  and  his  subordinates  deserve  well  of  the  state. 

Free  negroes  and  slaves. 

I  suggest  whether  it  would  not  be  wise  to  enact  a  law  requiring 
all  free  negroes  now  resident  in  those  portions  of  the  state  which 
have  been  overrun  by  the  enemy,  to  be  removed  and  put  to  work 
upon  the  fortifications.  In  their  present  position  in  the  peninsula 
and  other  portions  of  this  commonwealth,  they  have  it  in  their  power 
to  do  us  serious  mischief,  not  only  by  tampering  with  our  slaves,  but 
in  communicating  valuable  information  to  the  enemy.  The  slaves 
ought  also  to  be  removed  at  the  same  time,  and  employed  in  like 
manner,  if  the  owners  would  consent  to  the  arrangement.  I  advise, 
therefore,  that  you  pass  a  law  authorizing  confederate  commanders 
to  arrest  the  free  nc^groes,  list  them,  and  deliver  them  over  to  the 
proper  officer  of  the  confederate  government,  for  this  or  any  other 


XXX  Doc.  No.  1. 

service  in  which  lal)or  is  required.  Tliey  will  receive  good  wages, 
and  be  provided  with  rations.  When  the  danger  passes  by,  they  can 
return  to  their  homes. 

Many  reasons  could  b«;  urged  in  support  of  this  suggestion,  but 
I  do  not  deem  it  necessary  to  present  tlieni,  as  they  will  readily  occur 
to  the  minds  of  the  members  of  the  general  assembly.  Suffice  it  to 
say  that  there  is  a  strong  necessity  for  some  action  on  this  subject, 
and  it  ought  to  be  taken  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment. 

Dcafh  of  H(m.  Win.  Ballard  Preston. 

Since  your  adjournment  this  distinguislied  gentleman  has  departed 
this  life,  and  one  of  your  eai'liest  duties  will  be  to  select  a  successor 
to  fill  his  place  in  the  Confederate  States  senate. 

Mr.  Preston  was  a  gentleman  of  the  most  estimable  character,  of 
brilliant  talents,  highly  imjiroved  by  cultivation.  In  the  domestic 
and  social  circk^s  he  was  an  ornament.  As  a  statesman,  he  was  libeial 
in  his  views,  ardently  devoted  to  his  country  and  its  welfare,  but  with 
his  whole  heart  he  loved  Virginia.  Aiound  her  his  affections  were 
entwined  as  the  tendrils  of  tiie  ivy  encii-clo  the  majestic  oak. 

During  tlie  session  of  the  conventiou,  and  his  service  in  the  provi- 
sional congress  and  in  the  confederate  senate,  it  was  my  good  fortune 
to  see  much  of  him,  and  to  confer  freely  with  liim  on  questions  of 
the  utmost  importance  to  our  beloved  commonwealth.  His  views 
were  presented  with  singular  clearness  and  force,  and  our  interviews 
were  alwa3^s  pleasant  and  profitable  to  me.  He  recognized  Virginia 
as  the  noble  mother  to  w^iom  he  owed  his  allegiance,  but  never  for- 
got his  duties  to  the  confederate  government.  As  an  orator  he  had 
few  equals,  and  was  ]'emarkable  alike  lor  the  grace  and  elegance  of 
his  elocution.  He  was  a  pure  and  good  man,  and  in  all  the  relations 
of  life,  public  and  private,  he  perfonned,  faithfully  and  unostenta- 
tiously, his  duties  to  his  family,  his  friends  and  his  country.  He  has 
been  called  I'rom  the  theatre  of  action  at  a  most  interesting  period  in 
the  history  of  our  country,  and  well  may  Virginia  mourn  over  the 
loss  of  so  cherished  and  valued  a  son. 

His  race  has  been  run  ;  the  goal  has  been  reached,  and  he  has  gone 
to  the  grave,  adorned  with  the  highest  honors  that  his  state  could 
confer.  It  is  left  for  us  to  emulate  his  virtues,  to  imitate  his  exam- 
ple, and  profit  by,  the  lesson  his  life  inculcates. 


Doc.  No.  1.  xxxit 

Representation  in  the  leghlature. 

It  is  necessary  that  some  action  shall  be  taken  by  you  at  this  ses- 
sion in  regard  to  representation  from  those  portions  of  the  state 
under  the  control  of  the  enemy.  An  election  for  governor,  lieutenant 
governor,  attorney  general  and  members  of  the  general  nssembly, 
will  come  off*  in  May  next ;  and  unless  some  legislative  action  is  had 
now,  the  counties  in  the  enemy's  possession  will  have  no  opportunity 
of  voting.  This  result  should  not  be  permitted  to  occur,  if  it  can 
possibly  be  avoided.  I  suggest,  therefore,  that  you  pass  a  law  simi- 
lar in  its  provisions  to  the  ordinance  passed  by  the  convention  on 
this  subject.  It  is  but  just  to  our  gallant  soldiers  that  they  shall 
have  a  voice  in  the  seh^ction  of  their  state  ofHcers  and  representatives 
in  the  general  assembly;  and  it  is  equally  just  that  the  loyal  men  of 
all  the  counties  of  the  connnon wealth  shall  be  represented.  Our 
action  should  show  that  we  do  not  intend  to  abandon  any  portion  of 
Virginia;  and  our  legislation  can  certainly  be  so  shaped  as  to  indi- 
cate this  purpose  in  the  most  distinct  manner.  The  citizens  in  the 
enemy's  lines,  whose  loyalty  to  the  commonwealth  has  been  so  tho- 
roughly tested  for  the  last  eighteen  months,  have  a  riglit  to  expect 
that  they  shall  be  allowed  to  enjoy  all  the  rights  and  privileges  which 
legislation  can  confer. 

Mai'yland. 

I  do  not  despair  of  Maryland.  Iliave  strong  fjiith  and  an  abiding 
conviction  that  this  state  is  destined  to  constitute  a  part  of  the  South- 
ern Confederacy.  I  believe  now,  as  I  have  uniformly  believed,  that 
a  decided  majority  of  her  people  are  with  us  in  feeling  and  in  senti- 
ment, and  when  they  shall  be  permitted  to  give  a  free  expression  of 
their  sentiments,  they  will  so  declare.  Why  should  they  not?  Their 
interests  and  the  interests  of  Virginia  are  identical.  The  ties  of  con- 
sanguinity and  of  marriage,  of  kindred  institutions  and  similarity  of 
pursuit — every  tie  indeed  that  is  calculated  to  unite  and  bind  people 
together,  exists  between  Maryland  and  Virginia.  The  land  of  Car- 
roll and  of  Howard,  of  Ringgold  and  of  Watson,  will  seek  an  alliance 
with  congenial  spirits  in  the  Southern  Confederacy.  Her  proud  spi- 
rited and  patriotic  daughters  would  repudiate  with  scorn  any  other 
association  for  their  fathers,  husbands,  brothers  and  sons.  And  how 
could  these  daughters,  who  have  exhibited  such  interest  in  the  south- 
ern cause,  and  have  uniformly  shown  such  sympathy  and  manifested 


,♦>  fKxxii  Doc.  No.  1. 

such  kindness  and  attention  to  our  brave  soldiers  whom  the  casual- 
♦*     ties  of  war  have  thrown  amongst  them,  ever  assent  to  any  otlter 
0  association  than  with  their  noble  southern  sisters  ?     The  destiny  of 
Maryland  is  with  the  south.     That  destiny  will  be  accomplished. 

Conclusion. 

May  the  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  Universe,  who  has  watched  over 
us  with  such  benignant  care;  dispensed  blessings  with  so  liberal  and 
generous  a  hand ;  crowned  our  arms  with  such  brilliant  success,  and 
preserved  us  from  the  horrors  of  subjugation,  still  protect  and  defend- 
us  against  the  wiles  and  machinations  of  our  unscrupulous  enemies, 
and  in  his  own  good  time,  establish  our  independence. 

Respectfully, 

JOHN  LETCHER. 


Hollinger  Corp. 
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